For those who have been following our blog for a while now, you know that for more than 2 years we started with a business or entrepreneurship focused on selling food, we are from Venezuela and the idea is to diversify our income in order to maintain the economic stability of our home. But well, entering into the topic of the article, it is necessary to keep in mind that, in any company, regardless of its size or sector, efficient inventory management is needed, which is crucial, as well as other processes, to achieve the established goals. However, this is especially true for new ventures, where financial resources are usually limited and every decision must be made carefully. In this article, we will explore the importance of inventories in new ventures from our humble experience and how proper management can make the difference between success and failure.
Let's start by describing the term inventory according to what was mentioned by Serna, González and Aristizabal in their work inventory control system, according to the authors inventory in simple terms refers to the amount of products or materials that a company has available for sale or production, this can include raw materials, finished products, products in process and supplies, a good inventory management implies having the right amount of each item in stock at the right time.
In this same vein, we can mention several strategies that new businesses can use to manage their inventories effectively:
Firstly, it is crucial to have an accurate understanding of the demand for the products in order to be able to adjust the inventory levels accordingly. Startups can use a variety of methods to forecast demand, such as historical sales analysis, market trends, and customer surveys.
It is also important to regularly monitor inventory levels to identify any discrepancies and take corrective action. A variety of inventory control methods such as manual systems or inventory management software can be used for this.
Likewise, strong relationships should be established with suppliers to ensure a reliable supply of products and materials at a competitive price, considering factors such as delivery time, product quality and cost when selecting suppliers.
Proper storage of products is essential to prevent damage and loss. Some companies will carefully consider their warehouse design, storage methods and safety practices.
Public domain images taken from Commons.wikimedia;thebluediamondgallery
Dear readers, as you can see inventory management is a crucial aspect for the success of any new venture, by implementing effective inventory management strategies, you can improve your cash flow, reduce costs, improve customer satisfaction and support your growth goals. It is necessary that you start with simple and manual methods if your capital is low and then progressively begin to implement technological methods that allow you to streamline said activity.
Nowadays technology has put in our hands a series of computational tools that allow us to streamline the work, there are a variety of inventory management software available that can help automate and simplify the inventory management process and can be handled on computers or mobile devices such as phones. If you are not sure how to manage your inventory, consult with a professional with experience in supply chain management.
We hope that these brief aspects will be useful for those who take a big step to start a business, new ventures can establish a solid foundation for successful inventory management, which will help them achieve their business goals and thrive in a competitive market.
Thank you for reading our article, until a next installment.
- Serna, J.; González, L. y Aristizabal, A.(s.f). Inventory control system. Technological university Institute of Antioquia. Medellin: Colombia.
Sources
- Photography and Images: The cover images are the property of the author @amestyj the second image is in the public domain, information that can be verified at the bottom of the photo where the link was placed.
- Agrotecnia banner: made by the author @amestyj with own images
- Hive Banner: Designed by the author @amestyj with image owned by hive.
